Zmitser Dashkevich to stand new trial tomorrow

The court of Mozyr is expected to arrive in penal colony on October 30 to hold trial against a political prisoner.

The Young Front leader may receive a more severe sentence, Belsat TV reports.

“The reason is that Zmitser Dashkevich was given a status of persistent violator of prison rules,” Young Front deputy head and Dashkevich's fiancée Anastasia Palazhanka says.

She added the activist should not have been
classified as a persistent violator, because he was thrown into a
punishment cell and then to a cell-type unit just on arrival in penal
colony No. 20 in Mozyr. “Dashkevich will have another painful transfer.
He will be sent either to a prison in Zhodzina or to Hrodna,” Anastasia
Palazhanka said.

The Young Front leader arrived in the penal colony
in Mahilou on September 19. He went on hunger strike two days later due
to “inhuman treatment demonstrated by colony administration, including
penal colony chief Yeury Zbarouski”. On October 4, Dashkevich
terminated his hunger strike after moving to a cell-type unit explaining
the attitude of the colony administration towards him had “radically
improved”.

Zmitser Dashkevich and Young Front activist Eduard Lobau were detained ahead of the latest presidential elections.

They have been serving sentence on far-fetched
accusation of “hooliganism” since December 18, 2010. The real reason for
the prison term is their political activity and promoting the ideals of
free society and independent Belarus.

Political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich got a new
prison term on August 28 allegedly for failure to obey prison
authorities. His sentence was extended by one year.